Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Lee Jeong-rim, Netflix’s ‘As You Stood By,’ or “Dangsini Jugyeotda,’ follows Eun-su, who is planning the perfect murder to save her best friend, Hui-su, from the cycle of domestic violence. Eun-su has seen various forms of domestic abuse unfold throughout her entire life, but when Hui-su is nearly pushed to the edge due to her husband, Noh Jin-pyo’s relentless torture, Eun-su decides to take charge. Before long, however, the consequences of her actions begin to catch up, and the surprise return of a mysterious figure makes things infinitely more chaotic. This Korean psychological thriller series, based on the novel ‘Naomi and Kanako’ by Hideo Okuda, employs a healthy dose of visual storytelling in conveying the hairpin turns of the narrative. To that end, the setting not only serves as a springboard for the characters but also accompanies them on their journey.
Lavie Department Store Might Have Been Inspired by its Filming Location
Lavie Department Store is a fictional Luxury store created by Kim Hyo-jeong to enrich the narrative of ‘As You Stood By.’ While the show is based on the Japanese novel by Hideo Okuda, named ‘Naomi and Kanako,’ the department store in the series appears to be made from scratch. From the very first scene, Lavie Department Store estabilishes the visual identity of the show, with the shop’s glamorous exterior making way for the characters to uncover a harrowing set of secrets. It is possible that the creators of the show took vague inspiration from its filming locations, with real-life shops serving as reference points. Reportedly, the crew took over Lotte Department Store, a multi-storey mall situated at 81 Namdaemun-ro in the Jung District in Seoul. The similarity in their names is the most apparent connection. Lotte Department Store is also known to be popular among VIP patrons, which lines up with its fictional counterpart.
While Lotte Department Store might have served as the initial blueprint for the narrative, Lavie Department Store gains more layers over the course of the narrative, essentially doubling as a mirror into Eun-su’s mental state. The show frequently critiques how the store’s motto prioritizes catering to the demands of the wealthiest few, even when that means sacrificing one’s morals. To that end, the shop was likely designed with the intent of social commentary, with real-life outlets of a similar nature merely serving as superficial reference points. Additionally, the absence of any direct real-life parallels also allows the Lavie Department to be a more organic part of the show’s storytelling structure.
Jingang Firm is Seoul’s Fictional Gambling Hub Ruled by Chen Shaobo
In sharp contrast to Lavie Department Store, Jingang Firm, comprising Jingang of a Chinese market and a gambling hub, showcases the underground aesthetics of Seoul. Although Jingang is a wholly fictional establishment penned by Kim Hyo-jeong, it is likely a composite of various nighttime urban centers in South Korea’s capital city. In particular, Seoul’s popular Chinese market and street food hub, known as Gwangjang Market, likely served as a partial source of inspiration. Additionally, Jingang firm also doubles as an illegal gambling center, with some of the city’s most powerful people being tightly involved in the business. Given that casino gambling is illegal in South Korea, barring foreigners, it is unlikely that any real-life gambling hub was used as a reference for Jingang’s establishments.
While Jingang Firm is among the most prominently featured backdrops in ‘As You Stood By,’ it often serves as a character in of itself, with details about its appearance painting an implicit story. The owner of the establishment, Chen Shaobo, hints at a traumatic past, and that aspect is reflected in every detail of how the firm looks, down to a wall clock that is stuck at a particular timestamp. All of this reiterates how the firm was created with a very specific creative structure in mind, and any resemblance to real-life popular centers is likely coincidental in nature. Given that the original novel does not feature Chen Shaobo as a character, the narrative has nothing similar to a Chinese market-oriented establishment, making Jingang Firm a wholly original creation.
Read More: As You Stood By Ending Explained: Do Eun-su and Hui-su Go to Prison?
